Dev and Jeet should move over remakes

From dhishoom-dhishoom to puppy love ��� their emotions have often assumed gargantuan proportions for reasons best known to the Bengali janta. Made on larger-than-life canvases, they managed to do what they set out to ��� floor the masses. But in recent times, if the dismal performance of remakes is any pointer, the audience, which once lapped up these films, seems disenchanted with the trend.Is this just a passing phase? Directors, who have made remakes more famous than even the originals, open up on what���s plaguing them.
Ravi Kinagi We can always adapt classic literature, but where are the scriptwriters? They too have their own share of problems. In Mumbai, film teams hire scriptwriters, put them up in hotels where they can just write. Here, we do not have any such option. On top of that, scriptwriters do not get paid if his write-up doesn���t get approved by a production house. Also, in Bollywood, they can afford to do their homework for years. But we have a budget constraint in Tollywood. That apart, trends keep changing. There would be a lot of action films in Hindi before Hum Apke Hain Koun! released. First, we used to have ghar ka khana every day. Then fast foods were launched and the focus got shifted. Logon ne burger uthaya aur kha liya. So, a saturation point which comes after a few years. If remakes don���t work, filmmakers will think of something else. Having said that, Jamai 420 was not a remake. I wrote the first two drafts of the screenplay and Nataraj Das completed the same and penned the dialogues. The script was lying with me for around a year. The Bengali film I would like to remake: Uttam-Suchitra���s cult movie, Harano Sur
Birsa Dasgupta If I want I can write an original story, adapt one from a novel, do a remake ��� choices are aplenty. My first film 033 was my dream project. I came back from Mumbai for the love of Kolkata and that was also my tribute to the city. It was an original story and later, I adjusted with the industry. Having said that, my biggest success story came in the form of Sudhu Tomari Jonyo, which was a remake. It was also one of the biggest hits of last year. When I was given Pizza as a subject, which I later turned into Golpo Holeo Shotti, I was kicked by the subject of ghosts in an apartment with a twist at the end. Over the years, I have dealt with all kinds of subjects and have also left my mark. The thing is, nothing in this world is original, barring your dreams. But what I never do is not mention the source. I have never plagiarised and that���s what sets me apart. Just before Sudhu Tomari Jonyo, I wanted to make an orifinal commercial potboiler with Dev, which had to be pushed back since there was no heroine. I am proud of all the films I have made. I started out at a young age and there���s miles to go. I would do films that I have dreamt of doing, but right now my concern is to return the producer���s money. The Bengali film I would like to remake: Ashite Ashiona
Rajib
The kind of films I make ��� which are highly commercial ��� are difficult to be adapted from local novels. Moreover, there���s a dearth of good commercial scriptwriters in Bengal. So, I usually go for remakes, as the scripts are good and ready and we can always adapt them for the Bengali audience. Personally, I love Rupak Saha���s writing. I���ve read everything he has written till date. Of course, the first choice for any filmmaker is always local content. As for remakes, I definitely believe the trend has an expiry date. It���s already on the wane. Actually, the number of remakes is directly proportional to the number of superhits across different regions. We only buy the rights of films which are hits. The Bengali film I would like to remake: Chhadmabeshi or Anusandhan
Raj Chakrabarty I believe in the films I remake. If I didn���t do so, my job at hand would have suffered. Fact is, there is still a huge market for commercial cinema. I would love to see an original commercial movie like Bajrangi Bhaijaan happening here, all the more since Bangladesh is just across the border. But for that we need good writers. I can ideate, not write. Also, there is no hit formula in Bengal. Doing remakes is not a bad thing, provided the stories are adapted in Bengal���s context. I have many scripts on me, but not one has swept me off my feet. In Mumbai where there are teams working on a project, here an individual often does everything from writing the screenplay, penning the dialogues and then directing a film. There are several problems plaguing commercial cinema at the moment. To make films work, they need to be released in at least a 100 theatres. We first need that infrastructure to take things forward. The Bengali film I would like to remake: Tapan Sinha���s Jhinder Bandi
Raja Chanda Yes, absolutely. I have made 10 films in recent years, out of which seven were remakes. My first film, Target, was not a remake. My most recent venture, Black with Soham and Vidya Sinha Mim too wasn���t a remake. Having said that, I am proud of my seven remakes ��� the stories were outstanding and I loved them all. It���s a fact that there aren���t many original writers in Bengal today. Many send me their scripts every other day, which are mostly clich��d. I have also spoken to several upcoming writers but found nothing exciting from them. So, there���s no harm in taking a story from another industry and adding a touch of Bangaliana to it. The Bengali film I would like to remake: Tarun Majumdar's Bhalobasa Bhalobasa and Pathbhola